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Kilkenny 2-22 Galway 3-14: Top Cats dismiss Galway

IT WAS too much to expect a repeat of last year’s epic All-Ireland semi-final between these teams, but this was an unreasonable punishment for dreaming. The time machine by-passed last August and instead dropped us back in Thurles, around this time two years ago, when Kilkenny were like a juggernaut and Galway were roadkill. The margin was smaller but the role of each was no different.

Galway were unrecognisable from the team who had beaten Kilkenny last August and apart from the first 10 minutes they didn’t raise another gallop until the final quarter, by which time Kilkenny were coasting, had been reduced to 14 men and had taken their eye off the ball. Kilkenny could have won by any number. The final margin was just a sample reflection of their superiority.

As expected, Kilkenny made re-arrangements to the published line-up at centre field and in attack. Henry Shefflin and